Students Get Sick After Drinking School Milk

CHICAGO - MARCH 20: A three entree elementary lunch lies on display in the Nettelhorst Elementary School lunchroom March 20, 2006 in Chicago, Illinois. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) stopped by the school to visit the new, pilot lunch program called, "Cool Foods," as part of the Healthy Schools Campaign. Nettelhorst is one of three Chicago public schools participating in the new lunch program offering salad bars as a new federal law, effective June 30, 2006, states that all schools must establish wellness policies. (Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images)(Photo: Tim Boyle/Getty Images)

RICHMOND, Va. (CBS DC) – There was no milk served with lunch at 72 Richmond area schools on Friday.

That’s because the day before, several children got sick immediately after drinking school milk, reportsWTVR-TV. Other students reported the milk had a sour taste and a sour smell.

Henrico County Public Schoolssent a letter to parents explaining what happened: “Their symptoms, mainly nausea, were short-lived,” said the letter. “As a precaution, however, we have decided not to serve milk of any type tomorrow (Friday, May 30th), throughout the school system. Juice and water will be offered as alternatives.”

Marva Maid, he company that provides milk to the schools, blames faulty equipment, saying a stuck valve on a piece of machinery could have led to the milk going bad earlier than normal.

School officials say they are working with the county and state health departments to prevent this from happening again.